Golden Ticket Awards 2006

PatManForce said:
Can someone explain to me how Knoebels has better food then Epcot?

It tastes better.

To those people that tell me that "You Ohio State fans think your better than everyone." It's because we are. :)

Also costs less and the park has more variety.

Interesting that *every single award* is to a park in the United States. Reflects the voting block, I think...

I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.

There are parks outside the US?

PatManForce said:
Can someone explain to me how Knoebels has better food then Epcot?

Because people equate cheap food for good food.

If some of the folks would actually bring some $$$ in the park and SPEND IT they might discover that there's alot of good food to find in the parks that didn't make the list.

D Northam said: It being a new 2006 ride, and the ballots having picks for the best of 2005, it's just not a contender yet. Next year it'll have it's chance.

Actually, the awards included 2006 rides. The "Class of 2006" was included in the voting.

Paula

Paula Werne
Holiday World

This poll has all the usual problems with any poll--and that even include's Mitch's---of biases within the community. In this one, "amusement" parks seem to out-poll "theme" parks in the categories where (to me) the theme parks seem to clearly dominate.

And yes, while Mitch's poll reflects the enthusiast community, that community has its own biases compared to the rest of the world. Of course, we're right and the rest of the world is wrong, but still.

But, again like any poll, it's always good for some Monday morning quarterbacking. ;)

http://cse.umich.edu/

the park has more variety.

Waitaminnit. Knoebel's has more dining variety than Epcot? Seriously?

Granted, many of Epcot's restaurants are americanized overpriced versions of the real thing (*cough*China and Mexico*cough*) but I doubt that I'm going to find several different kinds of pickled/smoked fish ANYWHERE in Knoebel's, as I can in the Norway pavilion alone.

Or sushi. Or kaki gori. Or couscous. Or escargot. Or...

http://cse.umich.edu/

Could someone explain to me the logic of Roar at Six Flags America being better than Wild One? I continue to shake my head.

A day at the park is what you make it!

The Voyage and El Toro (not to mention Expedition Everest) over Goliath South for Best New?

I've not yet ridden a woodie better than Goliath. I don't think I ever will. Regional bias like a mother...

EDITED to add El Toro and EE. *** Edited 8/28/2006 3:08:25 PM UTC by Vincent Greene***

Ajrides said:IMO anyone who has ridden Eltoro knows its a top10 woodie

Not even a top 20 for me.

AV Matt
Long live the Big Bad Wolf

MAGXL200 said:
Your kidding me right. Avalanche is good but there is no comparison. Hades ownes Avalanche. First off the ride layout is simply way better and Avalanche is just too rough especially during the second turn. Hades is a smooth high speed coaster, which I think helps its ranking alot.

Well, I 1st rode Avalanche last summer(It wasn't new then), about 26 times in a row, and found myself laughing(Out of enjoyment) every time the train came back into the station. The times that I didn't have to get out, and quickly go back around to ride again, I just stayed on.

A rerideable coaster is one of the 2 top, of my 5 qualifications, for a Top Ten coaster in my opinion.

The fact that Avalanche only has 1 train, and you can still get double digit rides in a short amount of time, is extremely joyable to me.

Now try that with Hades..................................

The other category i really can't figure out is the best dark ride category.

Having been on the knoebels dark ride, its a very nice ride, but shouldn't be ranked anywhere close to some of the disney/universal masterpieces.

Better then the REAL haunted mansion? Better then one of the greatest theme dark ride experiances, in disneylands original Pirates Of The Carribean? Better then ToT? Better then the EMV dark rides like Indy & Dinosaur? Better then MiB over at universal?

i think not.

A Walk In The Park Podcast Host Coaster Count 278

I'm happy to see Epcot got the recognition it deserves for Illuminations. I'm a little surprised though that Wishes at the Magic Kingdom didn’t make the list for outdoor night production. I like CP’s summer spectacular and the new Hot Summer Lights I don’t think it even comes close to “Wishes”. However while I feel Disney has by far the best live entertainment and shows in the industry they don’t necessarily need the recognition since in the end the goal is to make money, and they are by far ahead of the competition when it comes to that.

PatManForce said:Having been on the knoebels dark ride, its a very nice ride, but shouldn't be ranked anywhere close to some of the disney/universal masterpieces.
Better then the REAL haunted mansion? Better then one of the greatest theme dark ride experiances, in disneylands original Pirates Of The Carribean? Better then ToT? Better then the EMV dark rides like Indy & Dinosaur? Better then MiB over at universal? i think not.

Unfortunately many folks are so busy making judgement calls based on the price to park or the price of admission, that they lose the whole idea of a fair and unbiased survey.

I love Knoebels like you couldn't believe....and I have Haunted Hotel from MBP ranked higher than kinoebels' *revered* dark ride...

bill, so unbearably geeky I rate dark rides... :)

I'd rate Disneyland "Remember: Dreams Come True" above any other nighttime spectaculars I've seen, including both Fantasmic and Illuminations: Reflection of Earth.

It basically takes Magic Kingdom's Wishes and add the grand tour of the park. Castle turned into a shooting gallery? Cannonball battle between the castle and the Matterhorn? It also takes old favorites like the Main Street Electrical Parade, Submarine Voyage, etc.

I'm shocked it didn't win.

Acoustic Viscosity said:
Ajrides said:IMO anyone who has ridden Eltoro knows its a top10 woodie
Not even a top 20 for me.

Haha Refer to his sig ;)

Brian Noble said:
the park has more variety.
I doubt that I'm going to find several different kinds of pickled/smoked fish ANYWHERE in Knoebel's, as I can in the Norway pavilion alone. quote]
Maybe you should try tossing a line into Roaring Creek sometime. ;)
As far as complaining that some attractions are ranked higher than others in bigger parks that cost more money, etc... if it's just a question of who can sink the most money into a project, why bother taking surveys? The place with the most dough wins.
And should the international cuisine (the real stuff) of some places even compared with various food products on a stick offered by other parks? Then again, it's "park food" not haute cuisine or 4-star restaurants being compared. If you ask me, the pickled herring is what's out of place in a theme park.
But then again, Cedar Fair put out a press release bragging that they have 3 of the top 15 wooden coasters... FWIW.

Ever feel like your vote just completely doesn't count? ;) I'm another to argue the merits of Thunderhead as #1, but hey, it's just a poll.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but is this year Kennywood's best showing ever? Phantom's been #7 for a couple of years now, but Thunderbolt 19? Jack Rabbit 37 and Racer 43? Have they EVER been that high before? Impressed the hell out of me, I'll tell ya that!

--Brett, disappointed that Storm Runner lost so much ground and that Hersheypark can't get any "Best Park" love, even when the "usual suspect" has an absolutely awful year (IMHO)

Brett, Resident Launch Whore Anti-Enthusiast (the undiplomatic one)